Weve all been there.
Someone compelling comes into view, and our heart rate speeds up and body temperature rises.
Attraction comes over us like a wave, powerful and seemingly unstoppable.
Can we control whom were attracted to?
Not surprisingly, sexual attraction is largely unconscious.
As Fisher points out, We can overlook a great number of problems in the object of our desire.
So, what do we find attractive?
The answer is part cultural and part biological, says Fisher.
First, we tend to be drawn to people who are similar to us.
Another factor frequently cited in pop culture is smell, sometimes in the context of pheromones.
Stillanothershowed that women were drawn to men whose perspiration was similar to their fathers.
Attention to looks: is that biology or culture?
Even though many of us dont want to admit it, good looks are the strongest factor influencing attraction.
(According toresearch, altruism, in particular, is a compelling trait, particularly for women.)
This emphasis makes sense.
After all, humans link attractive physical features with health, youth, and fertility.
For men and women, symmetrical faces are appealing.
Research has also shown straight men prefer women with a waist-to-hip ratio of about 70%.
Indeed, cultural body ideals play a sizable role in what people find attractive.
For instance, the glorification of thin frames is a relatively recent, Western phenomenon.
All that said, sometimes looks arent everything.
Context matters.
In contrast, when we ask women to think about a long-term relationship, physical attractiveness is less important.
Another predictor is the ineluctable energy we experience with certain people.
Selecting more intentionally.
The result: a more intentional process forfinding potential mates.
